Interview Questions

  • Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    Jeff Moden (6/15/2016)


    An interview is the one place where volunteering information can do nothing but good... if you know what you're talking about. When someone asks a simple question about how to get the current date and time in T-SQL, they can really start to strut their stuff by answering something like the following instead of asking for clarification on such a simple question...

    You are soooooo wrong!

    You obviously have not been on another side of an interview for quite a long time.

    Unfortunately, too many folks who've been appointed to conduct an interview have a limited knowledge of the subject. And they probably have no idea about that range of options you're talking about.

    They expect you to answer with that one particular option they do know about.

    If you start bringing all the other smart sh.t they will fill threatened, label you "nerd" in their minds and, at the best, report you as "overqualified for the position". At the worst - difficult to communicate.

    There must be a dozen of interviewers like that in the world, and 99% of applicants will never even see your advertisement.

    To be successful in job hunting applicants need to fit into a more common pattern, like - figure out what kind of answer they want from you and give that single simple response the interviewer would be able to digest.

    And when they get to your interview they have no indication that they deal with an odd freak, and they must behave differently.

    Give then a sign - and you'll get totally different sorts of applicants and answers on your interviews.

    Heh... yep. Understood. I'm not looking for 99% of the applicants... I'm looking for the 1% that can actually do what they say they can and what I need. 😀 As you stated before, the candidates have been really screwed up. I've been conducting interviews for a couple of "adopted" companies and the companies that I've worked for and the pickings have been really slim. Even the "highly qualified" candidates sent by various recruiting agencies can't answer even the most basic questions.

    Also, if I'm interviewing for a position with a company that wants a Senior DBA or Senior Database Developer and they think I'm a nerd for responding to a simple question like I did for my example response, then I'd be real careful at jumping at the opportunity. Hopefully, they're actually looking for someone that does know the "nerd" stuff because they are advertising for a Senior position and not feel threatened by the smart sh*t. 😀

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden (6/15/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    Actually, your "simple question" does not have a correct answer.

    The only correct answer would be a question in response.

    Probably, more that one question in response.

    Until your requirements become clear.

    The answer I posted would be great to hear. Unfortunately, I get "I don't know" or "I've never had to do such a thing before" or bad guesses like @Now. Anything that shows that they actually have some lights on when it comes to T-SQL.

    But, you and Gus both see... ultimately and if you have worked with dates in SQL Server, the question can get quite complicated especially not knowing the reason why you might want to get the current date and time. But that's a part of the interview, as well. Knowing that the question is an interview question to test some basic knowledge, the candidate probably shouldn't over-engineer the answer, especially in the form of multiple questions for clarification of such a simple question clearly asked to test the basic knowledge. Although I'd like to see an answer like the one I gave, even a simple GETDATE() would be head and shoulders improvement over the "dunnos" and bad guesses I've had to contend with, so far.

    I agree 100%. I would mention CURRENT_TIMESTAMP (rather than GETDATE()) and GETUTCDATE. I don't think you need to overcomplicate an answer for the first q in an interview.

    SQL DBA,SQL Server MVP(07, 08, 09) "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear." "Norm", on "Cheers". Also from "Cheers", from "Carla": "You need to know 3 things about Tortelli men: Tortelli men draw women like flies; Tortelli men treat women like flies; Tortelli men's brains are in their flies".

  • ScottPletcher (6/16/2016)


    Jeff Moden (6/15/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    Actually, your "simple question" does not have a correct answer.

    The only correct answer would be a question in response.

    Probably, more that one question in response.

    Until your requirements become clear.

    The answer I posted would be great to hear. Unfortunately, I get "I don't know" or "I've never had to do such a thing before" or bad guesses like @Now. Anything that shows that they actually have some lights on when it comes to T-SQL.

    But, you and Gus both see... ultimately and if you have worked with dates in SQL Server, the question can get quite complicated especially not knowing the reason why you might want to get the current date and time. But that's a part of the interview, as well. Knowing that the question is an interview question to test some basic knowledge, the candidate probably shouldn't over-engineer the answer, especially in the form of multiple questions for clarification of such a simple question clearly asked to test the basic knowledge. Although I'd like to see an answer like the one I gave, even a simple GETDATE() would be head and shoulders improvement over the "dunnos" and bad guesses I've had to contend with, so far.

    I agree 100%. I would mention CURRENT_TIMESTAMP (rather than GETDATE()) and GETUTCDATE. I don't think you need to overcomplicate an answer for the first q in an interview.

    Z'actly. In fact, it would really be cool if someone said "A lot of people still default to using GETDATE() but the trend is to use something a bit more ANSI compliant in the form of CURRENT_TIMESTAMP. If you need "Zulu" time, you could use GETUTCDATE".

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden (6/16/2016)


    ScottPletcher (6/16/2016)


    Jeff Moden (6/15/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    Actually, your "simple question" does not have a correct answer.

    The only correct answer would be a question in response.

    Probably, more that one question in response.

    Until your requirements become clear.

    The answer I posted would be great to hear. Unfortunately, I get "I don't know" or "I've never had to do such a thing before" or bad guesses like @Now. Anything that shows that they actually have some lights on when it comes to T-SQL.

    But, you and Gus both see... ultimately and if you have worked with dates in SQL Server, the question can get quite complicated especially not knowing the reason why you might want to get the current date and time. But that's a part of the interview, as well. Knowing that the question is an interview question to test some basic knowledge, the candidate probably shouldn't over-engineer the answer, especially in the form of multiple questions for clarification of such a simple question clearly asked to test the basic knowledge. Although I'd like to see an answer like the one I gave, even a simple GETDATE() would be head and shoulders improvement over the "dunnos" and bad guesses I've had to contend with, so far.

    I agree 100%. I would mention CURRENT_TIMESTAMP (rather than GETDATE()) and GETUTCDATE. I don't think you need to overcomplicate an answer for the first q in an interview.

    Z'actly. In fact, it would really be cool if someone said "A lot of people still default to using GETDATE() but the trend is to use something a bit more ANSI compliant in the form of CURRENT_TIMESTAMP. If you need "Zulu" time, you could use GETUTCDATE".

    Plus, by using CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, I, at least one time, avoid upsetting Celko :-D.

    SQL DBA,SQL Server MVP(07, 08, 09) "It's a dog-eat-dog world, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear." "Norm", on "Cheers". Also from "Cheers", from "Carla": "You need to know 3 things about Tortelli men: Tortelli men draw women like flies; Tortelli men treat women like flies; Tortelli men's brains are in their flies".

  • Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    Lynn Pettis (6/15/2016)


    So I guess it depends on the company you are interview with as to who may be asking the questions. I would hope that someone not familiar with the technologies used by a company would not be conducting a technical interview.

    Oh, they very well aware of the technologies used by their companies.

    Because their companies can use only those technologies which they are aware of.

    :hehe:

    A "Business Intelligence Specialist" will ask you for most in-depth knowledge of setting up SSIS packages, but you'll lose him the moment you mention about any other means of integrations with SQL Server.

    Because SSIS is the only thing he knows.

    And therefore SSIS is the only technology the company uses.

    And those other options you're talking about are out of the scope - congratulations, you've failed the interview!

    What a myopic view. I am not a BI specialist but I used SSIS extensively at a previous employer moving data between in-house and third party systems. Some of those packages were moderately complex in the data manipulations needed while moving the data.

    Also, just because the HR specialists "know" what technologies a business uses does NOT mean they know the technologies that a business uses. They are not developers or administrators. I know that my current employer uses their developers and administrators to complete technical interviews. I was involved in the interviewing of DBAs.

  • ScottPletcher (6/16/2016)


    Plus, by using CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, I, at least one time, avoid upsetting Celko :-D.

    BWAAA-HAAAA-HAAA!!!! Too funny. That's a pre-requisite for every job, huh? I almost spewed coffee on that one! :-P:-D

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Lynn Pettis (6/16/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    Lynn Pettis (6/15/2016)


    So I guess it depends on the company you are interview with as to who may be asking the questions. I would hope that someone not familiar with the technologies used by a company would not be conducting a technical interview.

    Oh, they very well aware of the technologies used by their companies.

    Because their companies can use only those technologies which they are aware of.

    :hehe:

    A "Business Intelligence Specialist" will ask you for most in-depth knowledge of setting up SSIS packages, but you'll lose him the moment you mention about any other means of integrations with SQL Server.

    Because SSIS is the only thing he knows.

    And therefore SSIS is the only technology the company uses.

    And those other options you're talking about are out of the scope - congratulations, you've failed the interview!

    What a myopic view. I am not a BI specialist but I used SSIS extensively at a previous employer moving data between in-house and third party systems. Some of those packages were moderately complex in the data manipulations needed while moving the data.

    Also, just because the HR specialists "know" what technologies a business uses does NOT mean they know the technologies that a business uses. They are not developers or administrators. I know that my current employer uses their developers and administrators to complete technical interviews. I was involved in the interviewing of DBAs.

    Easy, ol' friend. 😀 He's talking about folks that really ONLY know SSIS and nothing else. It seems myopic only because some of the folks he's talking about are so very astigmatic. Folks like you that don't limit yourself to only SSIS weren't included. I've actually run into the very problem he speaks of. So have you. You get a bunch of people that only know their own way of doing things and it's hard to convince them otherwise during the interview.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    My "Location" in the Forum Profile says "Auckland, New Zealand".

    Current time in Auckland, New Zealand is 12:12 pm.

    The "Posted" label indicates Today @ 1:12 am.

    That's how I see it being here, in Auckland, NewZealand.

    Must be London DSL time.

    Under "Forum Settings" there is a time zone selection.

  • timwell (6/16/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    My "Location" in the Forum Profile says "Auckland, New Zealand".

    Current time in Auckland, New Zealand is 12:12 pm.

    The "Posted" label indicates Today @ 1:12 am.

    That's how I see it being here, in Auckland, NewZealand.

    Must be London DSL time.

    Under "Forum Settings" there is a time zone selection.

    You missed the part where he said he had set that to the Auckland setting.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Jeff Moden (6/16/2016)


    timwell (6/16/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    My "Location" in the Forum Profile says "Auckland, New Zealand".

    Current time in Auckland, New Zealand is 12:12 pm.

    The "Posted" label indicates Today @ 1:12 am.

    That's how I see it being here, in Auckland, NewZealand.

    Must be London DSL time.

    Under "Forum Settings" there is a time zone selection.

    You missed the part where he said he had set that to the Auckland setting.

    He didn't, the problem is that Location and time zone are different settings.

    Luis C.
    General Disclaimer:
    Are you seriously taking the advice and code from someone from the internet without testing it? Do you at least understand it? Or can it easily kill your server?

    How to post data/code on a forum to get the best help: Option 1 / Option 2
  • Luis Cazares (6/16/2016)


    Jeff Moden (6/16/2016)


    timwell (6/16/2016)


    Sergiy (6/15/2016)


    My "Location" in the Forum Profile says "Auckland, New Zealand".

    Current time in Auckland, New Zealand is 12:12 pm.

    The "Posted" label indicates Today @ 1:12 am.

    That's how I see it being here, in Auckland, NewZealand.

    Must be London DSL time.

    Under "Forum Settings" there is a time zone selection.

    You missed the part where he said he had set that to the Auckland setting.

    He didn't, the problem is that Location and time zone are different settings.

    Ah... you're correct. Thanks Luis.

    --Jeff Moden


    RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
    First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
    ________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

    Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.


    Helpful Links:
    How to post code problems
    How to Post Performance Problems
    Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

  • Luis Cazares (6/16/2016)

    He didn't, the problem is that Location and time zone are different settings.

    Thanks, found it now!

    Did not have patience to drill so deep down on my own. 🙂

    It still does not quite work for me, because the time zone is "Auckland, Wellington, Fiji, Kamchatka", and the 2 last locations in the list have not the same DSL schedule as we have here, down under.

    Apparently, the site applies Britich DSL schedule, so the time is off by 1hour.

    But that was not my point.

    My point was - the question about finding current time does not have a correct answer without specifying additional conditions.

    Or, if you wish, any answer would be correct.

    As we all remember on Fridays, "It's 5 pm somewhere". 🙂

    _____________
    Code for TallyGenerator

  • SELECT 'c:\Programmefiles\Dicument\file1.txt' AS txt INTO #temp

    UNION ALL SELECT

    'c:\Programmefiles\Dicument\Subdocument\file1.txt'

    UNION ALL SELECT

    'c:\Programmefiles\Dicument\Image\file1.txt'

    UNION ALL SELECT

    'c:\Programmefiles\Dicument\Text\file1.txt'

    SELECT REVERSE(SUBSTRING((SUBSTRING(REVERSE(txt),CHARINDEX('\',REVERSE(txt))+1,LEN(REVERSE(txt)))),1,CHARINDEX('\',(SUBSTRING(REVERSE(txt),CHARINDEX('\',REVERSE(txt))+1,LEN(REVERSE(txt)))))-1))

    FROM #temp

    DROP TABLE #temp

  • Sergiy (6/16/2016)


    My point was - the question about finding current time does not have a correct answer without specifying additional conditions.

    And I think that's fine. If you don't know how, you don't know how. If you know a way, that's a good thing. If you several ways, that's also a good thing. If you can intelligently discuss the differences, that's a very good thing.

    I think one difference lies in understanding how something works versus just using it. If you understand something simple, then you're more likely to understand something more complex. This points to the bottom line of intellectual curiosity versus not caring one way or the other.

    Another point your statement about "additional concerns" raises is about questioning things. How many times have we received 100% clear, unambiguous specifications of what someone wants designed or written and it was actually right? Now, how many times do we have to pose questions to them to determine what they're really after. If you ask questions of the requester for something as simple as a date, you demonstrate that you understand things enough to ask clarifying questions.

    Does this make any sense at all or am I just babbling?

  • Ed Wagner (6/17/2016)


    Sergiy (6/16/2016)


    My point was - the question about finding current time does not have a correct answer without specifying additional conditions.

    And I think that's fine. If you don't know how, you don't know how. If you know a way, that's a good thing. If you several ways, that's also a good thing. If you can intelligently discuss the differences, that's a very good thing.

    I think one difference lies in understanding how something works versus just using it. If you understand something simple, then you're more likely to understand something more complex. This points to the bottom line of intellectual curiosity versus not caring one way or the other.

    Another point your statement about "additional concerns" raises is about questioning things. How many times have we received 100% clear, unambiguous specifications of what someone wants designed or written and it was actually right? Now, how many times do we have to pose questions to them to determine what they're really after. If you ask questions of the requester for something as simple as a date, you demonstrate that you understand things enough to ask clarifying questions.

    Does this make any sense at all or am I just babbling?

    We have a long standing joke around here. When I finish a project it is exactly what the business unit asked for...however, it is rarely what the business unit wants. 😉

    _______________________________________________________________

    Need help? Help us help you.

    Read the article at http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Best+Practices/61537/ for best practices on asking questions.

    Need to split a string? Try Jeff Modens splitter http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Tally+Table/72993/.

    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 1 – Converting Rows to Columns - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/T-SQL/63681/
    Cross Tabs and Pivots, Part 2 - Dynamic Cross Tabs - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/Crosstab/65048/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 1) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69953/
    Understanding and Using APPLY (Part 2) - http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/APPLY/69954/

Viewing 15 posts - 91 through 105 (of 111 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login to reply